SRFTI protest 34th day: Students seek ministry intervention, demand police withdrawal

Scroll.inIndependentProgressiveNov 4

Students at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute in Kolkata have continued their agitation for a month, demanding the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santosh Ajmera and accountability for violence that erupted on September 27 during an event organized by an RSS-affiliated group. The conflict began after students protested the presence of Hindutva slogans during the program, leading to clashes where 30 students and two faculty members were injured. While the administration claims the protest has become a platform for political battles driven by external forces, students argue they are facing unfair vilification and demand the withdrawal of rustication orders against six peers. Significant distrust exists between the parties regarding the scale of police deployment on campus, with administrators citing four or five officers while students estimate around 50. The ongoing standoff has resulted in halted classes and suspended hostel and mess facilities, with both sides maintaining their respective positions through statements and on-ground actions.

Bias read (Progressive): The narrative centers on student grievances and quotes anonymous administration staff using dismissive terms like 'scary' and 'silly', while attributing the conflict to external political forces rather than institutional failure.

The Indian ExpressIndependentProgressiveNov 1

Students at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata have continued their protest for 34 days, demanding the withdrawal of police from the campus and the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Santosh Kumar Ajmera. The students' union alleges that the administration failed to protect them from violence committed by outsiders on September 27 and subsequently imposed unfair disciplinary actions, particularly targeting Dalit and Muslim students. During a press briefing, union leaders criticized the Vice-Chancellor for refusing meaningful negotiations and accused the administration of using newly installed CCTV cameras to surveil protesters rather than ensure safety. The union also seeks an independent inquiry into the violence and the administration's decision to permit an event by an RSS-affiliated organization. In response, SRFTI Registrar Deepak Kumar rejected the allegations, stating that the claim of institutional failure regarding student security was false and noting that permissions for the disputed event were granted prior to the current Vice-Chancellor's tenure.

Bias read (Progressive): The article heavily features quotes from student activists describing state intimidation and communal profiling, while the institutional rebuttal is brief and lacks detailed counter-evidence.